The Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled the first features of its highly anticipated fifth edition, revealing the “New Saudi Cinema” short film program — a vibrant selection showcasing the creativity of Saudi Arabia’s emerging filmmakers, actors, and producers. These short films will be screened as part of the festival’s lineup alongside an array of regional and international cinematic showcases.
This year’s “New Saudi Cinema” short film program shines a spotlight on the Kingdom’s flourishing film scene through 21 outstanding short films, reflecting the diversity of Saudi storytelling — from narrative fiction and documentary films to animation.
The program embodies the creativity, energy, and ambition of Saudi talents shaping the nation’s cinematic landscape. Over 200 submissions were received this year, with the festival offering filmmakers a unique platform to connect with new audiences and affirm the growing global presence of Saudi cinema.
Featuring a carefully curated selection of films, the program tells authentic Saudi stories that mirror the richness of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and its vibrant modern identity. These works explore a wide range of profound and timely themes, shedding light on issues that resonate across the region and the world.
Selected Films
“Esk” — Directed by Khaled Nadershah
“Hilm,” the story’s heroine, bears the burden of caring for her family while grieving the loss of her father. Struggling under the weight of sorrow, she yearns to escape her dark reality.
“Azure” — Directed by Abdulwahab Bin Shadadi
A grieving son revives memories of his late father and their special bond when he finds and rides his father’s cherished bicycle.
“Mothers Cry Too” — Directed by Rimas Al-Hazmi
Set in Florence, the film follows “Laila,” a new mother battling postpartum depression and loneliness in her apartment, while her husband roams the city — leaving her torn between caring for her baby and holding on to her sense of self.
“The Swing” — Directed by Mamdouh Salem
After losing his father at a young age, “Alaa” discovers love and draws strength from faith and hope.
“The Guardian of History” — Directed by Ali Al-Sumain
At the National Museum, the “Lion’s Head” artifact comes to life, connecting past and future. The museum’s guard faces a gang attempting to steal it, uncovering how heritage safeguards identity and keeps it alive in the present.
“Briefcase” — Directed by Rawad Khalid
A young man struggling to find a job chases his runaway briefcase through Riyadh, embarking on an adventure that helps him rediscover the beauty of his city and his inner balance.
“Market Dynamo” — Directed by Ali Baqer Al-Abdullah
A documentary portraying a day in the life of “Bu Waheed,” a retiree who works at the flea market, encountering humorous and unexpected moments that reveal his charm and social wit.
“Sarh” — Directed by Abdullah Escobier
A cinematic journey into the life of a camel herder, exploring his daily rituals and his profound bond with nature.
“Sharshoura” — Directed by Ahmed Al-Nasri
While working as a driver of a “Sharshoura” truck, “Musa” confronts existential questions and childhood struggles — only to discover his strange ability to communicate with an unseen world.
“Ant’s Cry” — Directed by Lujain Salam
A melodrama delving into freedom, self-identity, and family ties in modern Saudi society. It follows “Ruaa,” who leaves her family home in search of independence — only to become trapped in its complexities.
“The Tenth Voice” — Directed by Zaki Al-Abdullah
A hearing-impaired boy struggles to fix his broken hearing aid amid heavy traffic during the Ashura procession. Forced to use a malfunctioning loudspeaker, he navigates through the crowd, driven by a deep desire for belonging and meaning.
“The Golden Fish” — Directed by Maria Saem Al-Dahr
A fisherman from Jeddah embarks on a quest to catch a giant golden fish, only to face unforeseen challenges that pull him deeper into the ocean.
“The Scene” — Directed by Lana Qumsani
A powerful depiction of the “Youssef Khalil” family trapped under the rubble of their bombed home in Gaza for three harrowing days.
“Unknown” — Directed by Ibrahim Al-Bakiri
The story of a young man in Taif working as a food delivery driver to pay off his late father’s debts.
“Vague” — Directed by Muhannad Al-Zahrani
A psychological short film that ventures into the mind of a disturbed man, where illusion and reality intertwine and truth remains hidden in ambiguity.
“Antithesis” — Directed by Abdulkarim Baouzir
A philosophical reflection on “Ali,” whose daily decisions — good or bad — reveal the profound effects of choice on his life.
“Midnight Snack” — Directed by Abdulmalik Bukhari
A fusion of storytelling and 3D animation, the film follows a lonely man on a surreal, comedic midnight journey to confront his innermost cravings.
“Wujum” — Directed by Ma’an Al-Saiari
A visually poetic psychological short capturing a moment of internal collapse under pressure and loss of identity, leaving viewers suspended between silence and questioning.
“The First Days of Mourning” — Directed by Nawaf Al-Hoshan
A father returns to his former home on the first day of mourning, confronting his ex-wife and adult children to uncover the truth about his child’s death.
“Serial Writer” — Directed by Islam Shaker and Khaled Abdel Fattah
An experimental collaborative film written by 76 people who never met, each adding to the previous writer’s text with no predetermined plot — a cinematic exercise in surrendering control over storytelling.
“The Man Who Stumbled Over His Words” — Directed by Mubarak Al-Zubaie
A celebrated novelist seeks a cure for his writer’s block, only to spiral into a deeper crisis — one involving memory, identity, and time itself.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essafi)
